2024-03-25 Joint Powers Water Board MinutesJoint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2024
Page 1
1. Call to Order. The regular meeting of the Joint Powers Water Board was called to order
by Chairperson Gleason, on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Joint Powers Water
Board Water Treatment Plant, 11100 501h St NE, Albertville, MN 55301.
Board present: Tom Dierberger, Ryan Gleason, Joe Hagerty, Chris Kauffman, Bob Zagorski.
Board absent: Rob Olson.
Staff present: John Seifert, General Manager; Jennifer Thomas, Office Manager; Dustin
Carlson, Water Department Supervisor / Facilities Manager.
Staff absent: Zac Foster, Project Manager.
Engineering present: Chris Larson, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH).
Other: Ryan Blake, Minger Construction.
2. Approve Agenda. General Manager Seifert requested the addition of 3.8 EDA Lien
Release. Zagorski moved, Hagerty seconded, to adopt the Agenda as presented with the
addition of 3.8 EDA Lien Release. Motion carried 5-0.
3. Approve Consent Agenda. Zagorski moved, Hagerty seconded, to approve the Consent
Agenda below. Motion carried 5-0.
3.1 Approval of February 26, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Minutes
3.2 Approval of March 2024 List of Claims
3.3 Approval of March 2024 Budget Report
3.4 Approval of March 2024 Cash Balances Report
3.5 Approval of February 2024 Monthly Operations Report
3.6 Resolution Approving Weber Lawn and Landscaping's Bid for Landscape
Maintenance
3.7 MBI Pay App. No. 6 - Filter Rehabilitation
3.8 EDA Lien Release
4. General Business.
4.1 Abdo 2023 Audit Results. General Manager Seifert played the audit presentation
previously recorded by Justin Nilson with Abdo. Nilson told the Board that at the end
of 2023, Joint Powers Water Board's assets exceed its liabilities by $33,123,559. The
Board's net position increased $2,070,823 or 6.7% and interest income increased
$2,040,093 from the prior year mainly due to market value increases. The cash and
investment balances at the end of 2023 totaled $19,278,969. Expenditures increased
$883,049 during the year mainly due to the increase on contract maintenance costs
and repairs and maintenance of the water system. Joint Powers Water Board's
investment in capital assets increased $149,007 or 1.08%. Abdo recommends that
the Board put a purchasing policy, as well as an electronic funds transfer policy in
place in 2024. Zagorski moved, Dierberger seconded, to accept Abdo's 2023 audit as
presented. Motion carried 5-0.
Joint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2024
Page 2
4.2 AE2S Notice of Award of Watermain Looping Project. At the January Board
meeting, the watermain project was recommended for a public advertisement bid
lettering on March 5. The bid package allowed for a base bid and an alternate
material bid for two different pipe materials (high density ethaline (HDPE) or fusible
poly vinyl chloride (PVC). Based on the bid tabulations, General Manager Seifert
recommended to the Board to proceed with Minger Construction Company's bid
package of $1,062,161.50 for the watermain looping project base bid and HDPE
piping. Hagerty moved, Zagorski seconded, to accept Minger Construction
Company's bid package of $1,062,161.50 for the watermain looping project and
HDPE piping. Motion carried 5-0.
4.3 Approval of Scope of Work for Proposal for Grant Funding for Future Water
Treatment Plant. At its April 2023 meeting, the Board adopted the April 24, 2023
Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). General Manager Seifert told the Board that the
water treatment plant expansion is estimated at a project cost of $20,000,000 for
capital. The TAC committee received and reviewed a scope of work from HR Green to
assist Joint Powers with researching and submitting three major funding
opportunities. (1) State bonding bill; (2) Public Finance Authority (PFA) grants and
low interest loans from the State; and (3) the Federal Congressional Directed
Spending (CDS) previously known as Federal earmarks. Staff and the TAC
committee recommend accepting HR Green's scope of work for proposal of grant
funding for future water treatment plant in a total not -to -exceed fee of $29,000.
Zagorski moved, Dierberger seconded, to accept HR Green's scope of work for
proposal of grant funding for a future water treatment plant in a total not -to -exceed
fee of $29,000. Motion carried 5-0.
5. Engineer.
5.1 Submittal of Increase in Joint Powers Water Board's Water Appropriations
from the MN Department of Natural Resources. Engineer Larson and Staff
have initiated the water appropriate amendment with the MN DNR, which looks to
increase the allowable pumping capacity to accommodate current pumping levels as
well as future volume through 2030.
5.2 Filter Rehabilitation — Change Order No. 1 -- Engineer Larson told the Board
that there were a few unforeseen conditions that have been identified in the Filter
Rehab Project. These include the removal of the welded filter backwash troughs,
providing new gaskets for the filter viewing glass windows and doing some welding
repairs. The total cost of those changes is $34,305.31. Staff recommends
accepting Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $34,305.21. Hagerty moved,
Zagorski seconded, to accept Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $34,305.21.
Motion carried 5-0.
Joint Powers Water Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
March 25, 2024
Page 3
6. Operations and Office.
6.1 GSR Update. General Manager Seifert told the Board that the ground storage
reservoir (GSR) located on the water treatment plant site has been out of service
since 2019. Supervisor of Operations Carlson and his staff worked with Utility
Service Co., Inc. to efficiently recondition the GSR and pumping equipment during
the last two weeks in February. The GSR was officially placed back in service on
February 29. Supervisor Carlson and his staff utilized a creative solution to replace
the level sensor with new radar measuring equipment that has improved the
accuracy and operation of the GSR automation operation.
6.2 Filter Rehab Update. General Manager Seifert told the Board that Filters 1, 2 and
3 are fully completed and 4 and 5 are nearing completion.
6.3 Staffing. General Manager Seifert told the Board that Zach Blake, a Joint Powers
Water Operator, resigned in March. Staff has posted ads on several sites to fill
Zach's position. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
7. Other Business / Announcements / Correspondence.
7.1 Locker Room Purchases. The Board previously gave Staff the approval for the
construction of a new locker room at the water treatment plant at a cost not to
exceed $20,000. That price did not include physical furnishings and fixtures such as
lockers. Staff recommends approval to purchase lockers from Your Locker Store in
the amount of $3,990. Zagorski moved, Dierberger seconded, to accept Your
Locker Store's quote for $3,990 to purchase lockers for the new locker room.
Motion carried 5-0.
8. Adjourn. Zagorski moved, Dierberger seconded, to adjourn the Joint Powers Water
Board meeting at 7:09 PM. Motion carried 5-0.
le fifer T �as, Recording Secretary